BABY WEARING IS MORE THAN BABY CARRYING

From A Milky Way



When we had Zeke more than eight years ago, I looked at that Baby Bjorn as a means of transportation. Lighter than a car seat. Hands-free. Get from Point A to Point B. It was all about me. But boy was that thing uncomfortable.

But thanks to Wooten and 7+ year experience owning and operating The Milky Way, I learned that a carrier is a lot more than a side car to my speedster. It's as much, if not more, about your baby and his/her well-being. Babies are literally a part of the mother inside the womb. They are being held and carried inside their mother's body. When mommy moves, or walks or runs, baby lightly bounces along, perfectly positioned and perfectly comfortable.

So when they come out of the womb they want you to help them transition from perfect attachment to complete independence...one baby step at a time. They want to be held. You want to boogie. The best way to do accomplish both is to carry your baby close to you. And to let them jiggle and bounce lightly along as you go. It's an ideal way to put them as close to being back in the womb as you can get. Babies thrive through touch.

According Babywearing International, a non-profit organization than promotes and instructs on babywearing, these are the advantages of attachment parenting:

• Happy Babies. It’s true … carried babies cry less! In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that baby wearing for three hours a day reduced infant crying by 43 percent overall and 54 percent during evening hours.

• Healthy Babies. Premature babies and babies with special needs often enter the world with fragile nervous systems. When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes—walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses. Research has even shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not.

• Confident Parents. A large part of feeling confident as a parent is the ability to read our babies’ cues successfully. Holding our babies close in a sling allows us to become finely attuned to their movements, gestures, and facial expressions. Every time a baby is able to let us know that she is hungry, bored, or wet without having to cry, her trust in us is increased, her learning is enhanced, and our own confidence is reinforced. This cycle of positive interaction deepens the mutual attachment between parent and child, and is especially beneficial for mothers who are at risk for or suffering from postpartum depression.

• Loving Caregivers. Baby carriers are a great bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, adoptive parents, babysitters, and other caregivers. Imagine a new father going for a walk with his baby in a sling. The baby is becoming used to his voice, heartbeat, movements, and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Baby carriers are beneficial for every adult in a baby’s life. Cuddling up close in the sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you!

•Comfort and Convenience. With the help of a good carrier, you can take care of older children or do chores without frequent interruptions from an anxious or distressed infant—which helps to reduce sibling rivalry. Baby carriers are also wonderful to use with older babies and toddlers; you can save those arms and go where strollers can’t. Climbing stairs, hiking, and navigating crowded airports all can be done with ease when you use a well-designed baby carrier!

We have a carefully selected and comprehensive lineup of carriers, slings and wraps at The Milky Way to fit each parent's needs preference. Those include:

1. MOBY WRAP - A single piece of fabric that you wrap around your upper body with baby pressed snuggly-buggly against your chest, side or back. Offers many different holds and is very comfortable for parents as the wrap absorbs the baby's weight and distributes it throughout the upper body and not just at the shoulders. Very comforting to baby. Takes a little trial and error but we are happy to help you with that and once you get it it's a snap.
2. ERGO BABY CARRIER - A Baby-Bjorn-like carrier that is much more comfortable for baby and parent. Baby sits rather than dangles which makes it more comfortable and is better for the baby's spinal growth. A favorite of hikers so that should give you some indication of its long-ride comfort quotient. Two knocks on the Ergo is that, although you get front, side and back positions, baby always has to face you and you need an infant insert before your baby reaches a few months old. Scores high marks with dads.
3. FREEHAND CARRIER by TogetherBe - A Baby Bjorn-like carrier that is much more comfortable for baby and parent. Has every advantage of the Ergo but without the two knocks. Baby can face in or out and, having more adjustability, there is no need for an infant insert. A big advantage is that it goes from newborn to large toddler (up to 40 lbs.!). A good choice when you want dad to get into the game as well.
4. RING SLING - Like the traditional slings that have been around since the dawn of time but with a ring for easy adjusting. High snuggle quotient. Offers the most hold positions. It's limitation is that since it wraps around one shoulder, it is not as comfortable as the others. That said, it is ideal for small infants and for those who want a carrier that is a bit more user-friendly than the Moby Wrap.
5. MEI TAI CARRIER - Combo wrap and carrier. It's like a Moby Wrap but without all the wrapping so it's more user-friendly. Designed like a traditional carrier such as the Ergo or Freehand but with softer, prettier fabric. Not quite as comfortable for older children but an easy and cute way to roll for infants under a year. The most stylish way to go while combining the best of all of the carrier options above...except the amazing comfort factor you'll get from the more practical-looking Ergo and Freehand. And most dads could pass on the cute embroidery.

CPSC Educates New Parents on Safe Babywearing

from CPSC.gov

Infant suffocation deaths in slings prompt renewed effort to warn moms and dads

WASHINGTON, D. C. - Infant slings and wraps have been used for thousands of years in many different cultures. For many parents across the United States, “babywearing” promotes a positive bond between child and parent. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants to make sure that parents and caregivers are aware of important safety information related to the proper use of slings.

CPSC is taking this opportunity to urge everyone to use slings and wraps safely, as CPSC has identified 14 infant suffocation deaths with sling-style carriers over the past 20 years. After reviewing numerous cases, child safety experts at CPSC have determined that parents with infants younger than four months of age, premature, low-birthweight babies, and babies with colds and respiratory problems should take extra care in using a sling, including consulting their pediatrician.

Suffocation/asphyxiation can occur when babies are contained entirely within the pouch of a sling with their face, including nose and mouth, pressed against the adult’s body, blocking their breathing. Suffocation can occur within minutes.

Because of the nature of the product and its use, some slings tend to keep an infant in a curled, chin-to-chest position, which can interfere with breathing. When an infant is in the chin-to-chest position, suffocation can occur. Both scenarios are serious concerns to CPSC. Many of the babies who died in slings were twins in separate slings and infants with breathing issues.
CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers:

• Make sure you can see your baby’s face or eyes in the sling and that your baby can see you. Also, you should place the baby’s face at or above the rim of a sling or wrap so that their face is visible.
• After nursing your baby, change the baby’s position in the sling, so that the baby’s face is at or above the rim of a sling or wrap and that their face is visible and clear of fabric and the mother’s body. You should be vigilant about frequently checking the baby in a sling.
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A new voluntary consensus standard for slings is being worked on by ASTM International. This is a positive step toward providing manufacturers with an effective safety standard.

This warning is not intended to characterize all slings as being dangerous to babies. CPSC has identified (1) specific situations that can pose a risk of serious harm to babies, and (2) simple safety tips that we hope the babywearing community can share with new parents.

Proper use of a sling. Baby’s face is at or above the rim of a sling or wrap and is clear of the fabric and obstructions.

Improper use of sling. Instead, keep the infant’s head above all fabric and away
from the mother’s body. Make sure the infant’s face is not covered by the sling.

Above and below: Improper use of a sling. Infant is in a curled position with chin touching chest. Suffocation can occur in this position.

Baby Wearing

Baby wearing tips from www.safemama.com

Baby wearing tips:

It’s easy to get frustrated when learning how to wear your baby.   Follow some of these tips and you’ll be a pro in no time:

• Practice practice practice.  Practice with stuffed animals before your baby is born.  Practice around the house when your baby is born.   The more you do it, the easier it becomes.
• Read the instruction manual.  As with any baby gear, reading the manual is essential.  You not only want to get the most out of your baby wearing apparatus, but you want your baby to be safe.
• Check on your baby often.  If you’re wearing your baby in a cradle hold, make sure their they have sufficient air flow.  Also make sure their heads are tilted back enough to allow easy breathing.
• Invest in a good carrier.   You want something that is going to be comfortable to wear, otherwise, you’re going to end up ditching the idea, more often than not.   If your carrier is comfortable, you won’t notice that you’ve got a baby attached to the front of you.  Unless of course, they punch you in the nose, or grab your hair.
• Invest in a few carriers.   Depending on your activities, you might want to have a few different types of carriers on hand.   Also, if both parents like baby wearing, you’re bound to have different tastes in carriers.  Your husband/partner may not like wearing something pink and floral. Worst case: If you hate them, they retain value if they’re in good condition so you can get some of your money back on eBay.